2008 Toyota Avalon

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2015· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT BOTH HEADLAMPS WERE NOT CORRESPONDING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,187.

• 12/30/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT ON 2008 TOYOTA AVALON STOP WORKING. 28,000 MILES ON VEHICLE .TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB ON ALL 2008 TO 2010 AVALONS HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BUT ARE CHARGING $ 2200 TO REPLACE WITH A NEW REDESIGNED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THEY ADMIT TO PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ISSUE RECALL . DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED ? *TR

• 12/29/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS STOP WORKING. REPLACEMENT BULBS BURN OUT PREMATURELY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A CUSTOMER SUPPORT BULLETIN. TOYOTA HAD INCORRECT ADDRESS ON FILE SO I DID NOT RECEIVE BULLETIN WITHIN WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PERIOD (1 MONTH LATE). DEALER PROMISED TO CHECK BUT OVER THE COURSE OF 4 MONTHS, DID NOT CONTACT TOYOTA. MY DIRECT CONTACT TO TOYOTA WAS THEN 5 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. HIGH BEAM BULBS REPLACED TWICE, AND STILL PROBLEMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *TR

• 12/28/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO EXPLODE ON SOME 2008 AND 2010 MODELS. MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS EXPLODED WITH 66,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I ROUTINELY DRIVE IN AN AREA WITH A HEAVY DEER POPULATION. I CANNOT SEE THESE HAZARDS AT NIGHT WITH OUT HIGH BEAMS. TOYOTA HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE (5 YEARS, 70,000 MILES). SINCE MY CAR IS OVER WARRANTY IN YEARS BUT NOT MILES, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THEY ARE TELLING ME THE COST WILL BE OVER $2,000. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM VERY UPSET THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM ON MY $40,000 TOP OF THE LINE TOYOTA. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO THE DOT, NTSB, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL. YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 12/28/2014· STRUCTURE

  THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND BECOMING VERY STICKY. PARTS OF IT HAVE ALSO CRACKED. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING THROUGH THE WINDOW, IT IMPEDES VISIBILITY. *TR

• 12/28/2012· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS EXPLODED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WAS BROKEN GLASS ALL AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

• 12/27/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEAD LIGHTS QUIT WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2010 HIGH BEAMS, TOYOTA FIXED THEM, HIGH BEAMS QUIT WORKING AGAIN ON DECEMBER 24TH 2013. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *TR

• 12/26/2012· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I BOUGHT A 08 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED FROM CARMAX IN MAY 2012 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE I WAS TOLD BY MY COWORKER THAT MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. I LOOKED AT THE REFLECTION IN THE GLASS BUT WASN'T SURE THAT THE LIGHT WAS OUT. I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON AGAIN, GOT OUT OF THE CAR INSPECTED THE LIGHT AND BOTH WERE ILLUMINATED. I RETURNED TO CAR TO CARMAX, REPORTED WHAT I THOUGHT WERE SMALL THINGS, VIBRATION IN THE TIRE, CHIPPED PAINT. I VERBALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT A SHORT IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND THE HEADLIGHT GOING OUT BUT IMPLIED THAT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN CORRECTED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE HID HEADLIGHT ISSUE. THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I WORKED THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT. I DROVE THE CAR 10 MIN TO WORK. THE REST OF THE TIME WAS MOSTLY DAYLIGHT DRIVING. ON OCT. 1, 12 I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT. DAYS HAD BECOME SHORTER AND IT GOT DARKER EARLIER. DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I NOTICED POOR ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT AND WAS CONSTANTLY SWITCHING MY HEADLIGHTS FROM THE ON POSITION TO OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. I HAD KNEE SURGERY OCT. 25, 2012 AND DIDN'T DRIVE FOR A WEEK. NOV 19, 12 I VISITED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CATONSVILLE, MD. I ADVISED THAT MY LIGHTS WERE TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NEW BULBS CLAIMING THAT THE BULBS GOING OUT WAS AN INDICATOR THAT THEY WERE GOING BAD. I'M NO GENIUS BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE THAT BULBS STILL ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY'RE BAD. AFTER INSISTING THAT THE EXPLANATION MADE NO SENSE AND CONTACTING TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION. THE DEALERSHIP REEVALUATED THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOUND THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BAD. TMC EVALUATED MY CLAIM AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, $1500. ALTHOUGH I HAD THE CAR 7 MONTHS IT WAS OUT OF THE ALREADY TMC EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 5 YRS. BUT UNDER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE OF 7200 MILES. THE TSB # FOR THIS IS 004410. *TR

• 12/24/2020· SERVICE BRAKES,VISIBILITY/WIPER

  POWER SUNSHADE IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION BLOCKING THE BACK WINDSHIELD AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON WHICH DISABLES TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL. THESE MAKE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE

• 12/23/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY CAN GET NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER AND THE OTHER DEALER WILL NOT EVEN RETURN THE PHONE CALL THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT YET. *TR

• 12/21/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HID HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. LIGHT WAS REPLACED IN MAY, 2011. HID LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED ON 12/13/11.

• 12/20/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON HAS A DEFECTIVE HIGH BEAM / LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. THE HIGH BEAM BULB BURST WHILE IN USE ONE NIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 43,000 MILES, BUT THE 60 MONTH WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2013. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN AUGUST, JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. MY VEHICLE WAS DUE FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION IN OCTOBER, SO I RESEARCHED INFORMATION TO REPAIR THE HEADLAMP AND DISCOVERED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2008 TOYOTA AVALONS. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER TO DETERMINE THE REPAIR COST. WHEN THE SERVICE REP. SAW LOW MILEAGE, HE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIR TO BE APPROX. $1000 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. WHEN HE REALIZED THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE $65 BULB. I'M CONCERNED THAT A $1500 REPAIR WAS INSTANTLY REDUCED TO $65 BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IF THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED WITHIN THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE AND THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED ANOTHER 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. NOW I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BULB WILL BLOW OUT AGAIN AT SOME INCONVENIENT TIME. HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ARE REQUIRED IN MA AS AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION ITEM. OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE CRITICAL FOR SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHY ISN'T A REPAIR FOR A COMMON PROBLEM / SAFETY HAZARD LIKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE? *TR

• 12/19/2018· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  LOW BEAM LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OUT AFTER BEING ON FOR A SHORT TIME. I'VE BEEN BATTLING THIS ISSUE SINCE 2013 WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNT OUT. I CAN TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON QUICKLY AND THE AFFECTED LIGHT COMES BACK ON. I DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN IT IS DARK OUT. I EVEN HAD SMALL LED LIGHTS MOUNTED INTO MY DASH AND WIRED INTO EACH LOW BEAM BULB SO I CAN SEE IF ONE GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AT NIGHT AS IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF ONE WHEN OUT.

• 12/18/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKER THEN TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON IS TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND THE DEALER SAID I HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR EVALUATION WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO DO THIS DURING BUSINESS HOURS WHEN IT IS DARK TO KNOW THAT MY LIGHTS ARE OUT. AND WHEN BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT IT ISN'T A GOOD IDEA TO LEAVE THEM OFF SO I CAN DRIVE TO THE DEALER. BOTH BULBS HAVE BURST IN THE PAST AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THIS TIME THE NEW BULBS DON'T APPEAR TO BE BURSTING BUT JUST TURNING OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE BURST BULB PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING WHEN I HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES BUT NOW THE DEALER SAID BOTH LIGHT HOUSINGS NEEDS REPLACED AT MY COST OF OVER $5000. *TR

• 12/16/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT STOPPED ILLUMINATING INDEPENDENTLY. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500. DA

• 12/13/2011· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING... ONE DAY ONE HEADLIGHT WOULD GO OUT, THE NEXT DAY, THE OTHER LIGHT... ESSENTIALLY TAKING TURNS GOING OFF. THEN BOTH WOULD BE ON. PER SOME RECENT COMPLAINTS, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE REPLACING THE LOW BEAMS WILL FIX THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A CLEAR MANUFACTURING ISSUE CONSIDERING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME MODEL. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ADVISED THIS HAD NOTHING TO DUE WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE HIGH BEAM ISSUE. *TR

• 12/13/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  RIGHT SIDE HIGH BEAM BULB (ALSO DOUBLES AS DRIVING LIGHT) FOUND SHATTERED. BOUGHT NEW BULB (ABOUT $45 ONLINE) AND INSTALLED MYSELF. NO REASON FOUND FOR SHATTERED BULB.

• 12/12/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHT CLUSTERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

• 12/12/2011· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED WHEN SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. MOST RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

• 12/10/2017· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY GO OUT WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. IT STARTED WITH ONE SIDE BUT NOW BOTH LIGHTS ARE GOING OFF AND HAVE DONE SO SIMULTANEOUSLY WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS!

• 12/09/2019· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  FRONT DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND IS STILL CONTINUING. I'VE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO THIS. I'VE HAD A 97 BLACK TOYOTA CAMRY UP UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND DASH WAS PERFECT. MY AVALON IS GARAGED PARKED AND GARAGED PARKED AT WORK. I'M AFRAID IS GOING TO EFFECT THE AIR BAGS, ETC. AND COME OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. I'VE ATTACHED PHOTOS. IT'S BEEN A SLOW PROCESS WHICH STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR.

• 12/09/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MY TOYOTA AVALON'S HEADLIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN I NOTICED MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT ALTOGETHER. SINCE IT CAME AND WENT I LET IT GO FOR AWHILE BUT NOW IT IS MOST OF THE TIME ON BOTH LOW BEAMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE BOTH LOW BEAMS COULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 75000 MILES. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THEM BUT IT COULD BE BECAUSE IT CAME ABOUT AROUND THE TIME I WAS BUYING THE CAR USED. NOW I FIND OUT THAT THE HIGH BEAM CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHANGING OUT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR $1200 FOR EACH SIDE. TOYOTA TELLS ME THEY WILL NOT HELP ME OUT WHATSOEVER AND WANT ME TO FORK OUT $2500 TO FIX A PROBLEM THEIR ENGINEERS CAUSED!! *TR

• 12/09/2012· STEERING

  THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL LOCK UNLOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT FULL FORWARD. THE LOCK HAD ALSO COME UNLOCKED ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR BUT I HAD NOTICED IT AND CORRECTED IT PRIOR TO THE WHEEL GOING FORWARD. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET TODAY AND NOTICE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS SITES WITH COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME NATURE ABOUT THE AVALON. *TR

• 12/07/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND ALSO FLICKER. STARTED OFF WITH ONE LIGHT TURNING OFF AND NOW BOTH LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF. AFRAID TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON WILL START THEM BACK BUT THEY MAY GO RIGHT BACK OUT. IS MORE FREQUENT NOW. *TR

• 12/07/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

• 12/05/2012· STRUCTURE

  IT JUST RAINED THE PASS 4-5 DAYS. MY WIFE WENT TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING SHE THOUGHT DROPPED UNDERNEATH MY SEATS. SHE SAID MY CARPET/FLOORBOARDS WERE WET. I WENT TO THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED DOWN ON THE CARPET. WATER INSTANTLY RAISED UP AND FORMED A PUDDLE AROUND MY INTIRE HAND. THIS IS HAPPENING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND BACK SEATS. NO MOISTER ON HEADLINER DOORS PILLARS DASH SEATS ETC ETC ETC. ONLY CARPET. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 12/03/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT LIGHT WENT OUT. REPLACED BOTH HID LIGHTS BUT ISSUE KEEPS COMING BACK. WHEN I TURN THE LIGHT OFF AND THEN ON THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. HOWEVER AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES ONE OF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO BE RANDOM, BUT SOME TIMES BOTH GO OUT THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. CALLED TOYOTA TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. TOYOTA FRANKLY TOLD US THAT THIS IS NOT THEIR ISSUE. LOOKING AT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. WE LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WITHOUT LIGHTS YOU HAVE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. P.S. THIS IS NOT THE HIGH BEAM ISSUE BUT RATHER THE NORMAL HEAD LIGHT. *TR

• 12/03/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BOTH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) ARE INOPERATIVE, PER NHTSA ODI # TSB-0044-10. COMPLAINT: TOYOTA AND ODI HAVE KNOWN OF THIS RECURRING LIGHTING SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT ON VARIOUS VEHICLES FOR THREE MODEL YEARS 2008-2010. TOYOTA HAS EVEN DEVELOPED A NEWLY DESIGNED HIGH BEAM/DRL REPLACEMENT HOUSING ASSEMBLY TO REMEDY THE DEFECT, WITH AN APPROXIMATE COST TO EACH VEHICLE OWNER OF $3,000+, UNLESS COVERED BY 3 YEAR/36,000 WARRANTY. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH TOYOTA AND NHTSA TO EXPOSE VEHICLE OWNERS TO HIGH REPAIR EXPENSE FOR KNOWN SERIOUS LIGHTING SAFETY-RELATED DEFECTS, IF VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ODI SHOULD RECLASSIFY THIS DEFECT, PLEASE!

• 12/02/2016· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  LEFT HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER ABOUT 15 TO 20 MIN OF DRIVING..THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA FOR YEARS. WHY HAS THE NHTSA FORCED TOYOTA TO FIX THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR A LONG WHILE. NHTSA REF# 10033406 AND 10037591. *TR

• 12/02/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFire

  IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATED, WE HEARD WHAT SEEMED LIKE A FIREWORK OR SMALL ARMS FIRE. MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS EXAMINED, DIAGNOSED, & REPAIRED. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS, BUMPER COVER, & COWLING WERE REPLACED DUE TO MELTING AND FIRE DAMAGE, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED(IT HAD BEEN DETERMINED IT HADN'T BEEN DAMAGED OTHER THAN INSPECTION) ALL PARTS WERE RESERVED FOR MY INSPECTION. I HAD BEEN TOLD THE HIGH BEAM HAD WORKED ITSELF LOOSE & CAUSED THE FIRE. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN!!! THE BULB HAD EXPLODED IN THE HOUSING, MINUTE PIECES OF GLASS WERE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING, & THE ONLY DAMAGE TO IT WAS EXTERNAL CHARRING. I HAVE STORED THE LENS FOR INSPECTION, PROVING THE EXPLOSION THEORY. I THANK THE LORD WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME OR THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BURNED TO A CRISP. WE RECEIVED A FORM LETTER FROM TOYOTA A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE" CONCERNING CERTAIN 2008- 2010 AVALON'S HIGH BEAM DRL BULBS. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE HAD OTHER ISSUES AS THEY HAVE OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT IF WE HAVE HAD ANY REPAIRS PAID FOR "OUT OF POCKET" THIS BULB EXPLODED.....IT CAUSED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ITS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE WERE IDLING IN A DRIVEWAY NEAR A WATER SOURCE, AND I HAVE HAD FIRE SAFETY TRAINING. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A LARGE EXTINGUISHER AND CARRY IT IT THE VEHICLE. WE ARE VERY ANXIOUS & CAUTIOUS DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOW. *TR

• 11/30/2015· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE AVALON ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ONE OF THE LIGHTS WILL NO LONGER WORK. IN THE DARK, THIS CREATES A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ONCOMING CARS AND LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO SEE PEOPLE AND OTHER ITEMS IN THE ROAD.

• 11/30/2009· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS WILL OCCUR IN EITHER AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MODE. YOU WILL NEED TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS THEN TURN THEM BACK TO THE ON POSITION TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON SOMETIMES. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD FOR ME AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW, DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. *TR

• 11/26/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 11/25/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

• 11/24/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CONSUMER HAS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON AND WANTS INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH TOYOTAS. *NJ

• 11/23/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BOTH HIGH BEAM LAMPS SHATTERED INSTANTANEOUSLY IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR DISTRACTION AND DANGEROUS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE PRIMARY VEHICLE AND OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. WHILE TOYOTA FREELY ACKNOWLEDGES DEFECTIVE PARTS USED IN 2008,2009 AND 2010 MODELS, THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR, OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD.(T-SB-0044-10) THE STANDARD CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER RANGES BETWEEN $2400.00 AND $800.00.

• 11/22/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  RIGHT HID LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WENT OFF WITH OUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, RIGHT HID LOW BEAM HEADLAMP WENT OFF AFTER TURNING ON FOG LIGHTS OR HIGH BEAMS. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES BETWEEN 11 NOV 2010 AND 20 NOV 2010 WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HEADLAMPS IN AUTO MODE. MILEAGE 48K. *TR

• 11/21/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. INITIALLY WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT BULB BUT SOMETIMES ITS THE LEFT BULB. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WILL BE ABOUT 1500.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE SOLVED AND MANY OWNERS OF THE CARS ARE SPENDING IN EXCESS OF 2500.00 AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CO AND THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS "THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE BULB HAS AN ENHANCED LIGHT OUTPUT FOR A BETTER FIELD OF VISION AND THUS SAFETY. THE BULBS WILL TURN OFF IF THE BULB IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THERE ARE TIMES BY SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEN BACK ON THE HID WILL TURN BACK ON." THE LIGHTS CAN BE ON FOR 5 MINUTES AND THEY WILL TURN OFF. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I LEARNED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT WIDESPREAD WITH 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. ITS DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR

• 11/19/2018· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY THE HIGH BEAMS SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT GO ON AGAIN. I SWITCHED TO LOW BEAMS. I LATER LEARNED FROM A MECHANIC THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR INFERIOR MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLLING THE HEADLIGHTS AND THAT THE LOW BEAMS COULD ALSO SUDDENLY GO OUT WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THE TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT AND HAVE REFERRED ME TO A TOYOTA DEALER THAT WANTS OVER $2,000.00 TO FIX THE SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I BELIEVE IT ONLY AFFECTS THE 2008 AVALON MODELS. THERE ARE EVEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTHING TO DOWNLOAD AS I DID NOT GET A WRITTEN ESTIMATE, ONLY A TELEPHONE QUOTE, FROM THE TOYOTA DEALER.

• 11/19/2007· SEATSCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE HEAD REST SAFETY SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NEVER A HEAD REST SAFETY SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DOCUMENTATION, ALL 2008 TOYOTAS SHOULD HAVE THE FEATURE INSTALLED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ARM, NECK, AND BACK. AS OF NOVEMBER 19, 2007, THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RETURNED ANY PHONE CALLS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,750.

• 11/18/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BOTH HIGH BEAM LAMPS WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A HILLY ROAD WITHOUT ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON ROAD -- BOTH BULBS WENT BAD. DEALER AT SERVICE JUST WANTED TO REPLACE THEM. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I CAME ACROSS BULLETIN ONLINE THAT STATED TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE HOUSING FOR LAMPS WITH NEW ONE PROVIDED CAR WAS UNDER 72,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS. ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS AT 4.5 YEARS AT TIME OF INCIDENT, WHEN I CALLED INTO TOYOTA, I WAS AT 5 YEARS 1 MONTH, ALTHOUGH STILL UNDER MILEAGE. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE DEALER CALL TOYOTA, WHICH THEY DID NOT DO, DESPITE ME REPEATEDLY ASKING THEM TO DO SO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. IN THE END, I CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN AND AFTER THEY WERE ABLE TO REACH THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT OF HOUSING TO THEIR NEW DESIGN. I HAD REPLACED THE HIGH BEAM BULBS OF COURSE, AT SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE SINCE THEY ARE NOT STANDARD BULBS AVAILABLE AT AUTO PARTS STORES, BUT I FEAR THEY WILL AGAIN FAIL ME AT NIGHT WHILE ON A DARK HILLY ROAD. PLUS NOW, RIGHT AFTER FINISHING ANOTHER DEALER SERVICE, ONE LOW BEAM HID LAMP IS NOT STAYING ON AND GOES OFF. CHECKING ONLINE, I DO NOT SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH HEADLAMP ISSUES ON THIS MODEL, HIGH BEAM OR LOW BEAM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

• 11/17/2024· POWER TRAIN

  I have an 08 Avalon xls and was driving and out of no where it started to shudder and it happened as I was bending a curve. I almost ran off the road. No indicators came on my dash! Because I am mechanically inclined I do know a little about vehicles! So I pulled to inspect the bottom of the transmission pan was wet! And due to the seal transmission there was no way for me to check the fluid! I believe the shudder could be from the torque converter or transmission! I took the vehicle to a friend shop and was told how to add the transmission fluid! And end up putting in a whole court of transmission fluid in before it started to show coming out where it’s supposed to be checked! By not being able to check the transmission fluid and with the shudder like it did it could have caused an accident! I still don’t know what the problem is due to the lack of money to be able to take it to a dealer to find out the true cause! And now my car shudder at 30mph and 45mph if I cruise up to the speed limit but if I accelerate faster then nothing!

• 11/17/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

• 11/17/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH THE SWITCH, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED BACK ON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

• 11/17/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE VEHICLE SURGED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE SPEED INCREASED BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. SHE WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DOWN SHIFT TO THE LOWEST GEAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSED BECAME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CUT THE FLOOR MAT TO FIT IT IN THE VEHICLE AND HOOKED IT TO THE BOLTS. THE CONTACT ALSO PAID A FEE TO DETERMINE IF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DISPLAYED ANY FAILURE CODES. THE FAILURE DID NOT REOCCUR AFTER THE DEALER CUT THE FLOOR MATS. SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED RECALL 09V388000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOTICE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500. UPDATED 12/30/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FLOOR WAS NOT CUT TO FIT VEHICLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED. UPDATED 12/30/09

• 11/16/2019· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN 2015, I'VE EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHTS THAT FLICKER AND GO OFF ONLY TO BE FULLY ILLUMINATED BY TURNING OFF THEN BACK ON. MOSTLY, IT'S THE DRIVER SIDE AND SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER SIDE; INFREQUENTLY, BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE AFFECTED. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A SOLUTION AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR REPORTS WITH 'SOLUTIONS' RANGING FROM SIMPLE FEW DOLLARS TO ABOVE $1000. MY LOCAL DEALER HAD THE CAR ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS...TO NO AVAIL AND WAS WILLING TO 'FIX' IT FOR $1200. BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF SIMILARLY DESCRIBED ON INTERNET FORUMS, I THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES IF, FOR NO OTHER REASON, THAN THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.

• 11/16/2014· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN A REMOTE DARK COUNTY ROAD, FIRST MY HIGH BEAM LAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY,THEN APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS MY LEFT LOW BEAM LAMP FAILED. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED ALL HEADLAMPS OFF, THEN AFTER FIFTEEN SECONDS, I TURNED THE LOW BEAM LAMPS ON. AFTER A WARM UP PERIOD, THE LOW BEAM LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE HIGH BEAMS NEVER ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. *TR

• 11/15/2010· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT A COST OF $250, ($80 FOR THE LAMP AND $170 IN LABOR. AFTER DRIVING 11,270 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *TR

• 11/15/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  2008 TOYOTA AVALON DEFECT - HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY IN MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON, I LOST MY HIGH BEAMS AND MY LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. UPON CHECKING BULBS, BOTH HIGH BEAM 9011H1R1 BULBS BLEW OUT (SHATTERED). I FOUND THE TSB NOTICE ON LINE (TSB-0044-10) AND WENT TO TOYOTA SEEKING TOYOTA TO FIX THE DEFECT. THEY TOLD ME THE COST WAS $2,400 TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THEY DID OFFER TO SPLIT THE COST 50/50 WITH ME BUT I DECLINED STATING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT AND WAS OCCURRING IN 2008, 2009 AND 2010 TOYOTA AVALON. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE. TOYOTA DECLINED STATING IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A TSB. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I LOST NOT ONLY MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WITHOUT WARNING, BUT ALSO MY LEFT LOW BEAM HEAD LAMP. TOYOTA SHOULD CLASSIFY THIS AS A 'RECALL' AND NOT A TSB.

• 11/13/2016· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE. HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. EITHER DRIVERS,PASSENGER OR BOTH. HID HEADLIGHTS OEM.